Reader Letters | Different businesses

Dec. 14, 2010

I find it quite difficult to understand how the NCAA can continue to hide their heads in the sand in cases such as Cam Newton's. The NCAA cleared him to play in the SEC title game because it found no evidence that he or Auburn knew anything about Cecil Newton's pay-for-place scheme. Do Cam and the people at Auburn suffer from amnesia? How gullible does the NCAA think we are? As in a number of criminal cases, the old expression “follow the money” comes into play, and I firmly believe that this is the last thing the NCAA wants to do.

Cecil Newton didn't show at Saturday night's Heisman Trophy ceremony because, as stated in The C-J, his presence could rob Cam and the event of a sacred moment. Horse manure! He didn't want to field answers to any questions involving proposed payments for Cam's services.

Today our major colleges and universities are conducting two distinctively different businesses: the first, a nonprofit business to prepare our young people for rewarding careers in life, and second, profit-making football and basketball programs that pay enormous salaries to coaches (many in excess of department heads in the school) and payments to players other than books, tuition, housing and meals that are covered up and cannot be proven.

PAUL R. EBERHART

Louisville 40242

Active outreach

With all the controversy surrounding the Passport Health Plan, I thought I would write from another perspective. While I have no knowledge of the issues mentioned in the audit, what I can speak to is my participation on the PAD Advisory Council. This council is a community-based group of individuals who work with Passport on issues related to its Medicare Advantage program, geared to older adults and individuals with dual diagnoses.

They make a real effort to include a wide range of groups and advisers in this, and take feedback about service quite seriously. I have been impressed with their success in working with specific populations, such as those with COPD (lung and breathing issues) and conditions related to heart disease and diabetes. They do active outreach to such individuals, and work creatively to help them effectively manage their illnesses. They have a strong ability to provide translation services and are active in many community outreach events. I would hope that we all take these actions into account.

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HARRIETTE FRIEDLANDER

CEO, ElderServe Inc.

Louisville 40202

Act of genocide

I have numerous concerns about the Noah's Ark themed amusement park, several of which I have not heard mentioned.

On top of the Noah's Ark tale being thoroughly disproven by geology and every other branch of earth science, there is something quite terrible at the heart of the story. The story details what would have to be the greatest single act of genocide in human history. If it were true, every single man, woman and child on earth died during those 40 days and nights with the exception of Noah and his family. Even the acts of Hitler and Pol Pot pale in comparison.

Is this really the kind of story to turn into a theme park for children? If they wish to do so, have them use their own money. I strongly oppose taxpayer support for this park.

JAMES ADAMS

Louisville 40218

Blissful ignorance

I find it sadly ironic that our governor can, out of one side of his mouth, claim to support improved education for Kentuckians and, out of the other, offer tax incentives to the execrable creationist theme park proposed for Northern Kentucky. Maybe ignorance actually is bliss. That seems to be the case in the Bluegrass State. We can be proud to have outstripped Kansas as the most backward state in the union.

STEVEN GREGSON

Owensboro, Ky. 42301

Deserving respect

I echo the comments of the letter-writer from the Sunday Forum. I served in the military and went to combat with two guys in our company who were gay, and everyone knew it. What mattered most was their courage, their aim and the esprit de corps required for combat.

It seems to me that the “don't ask, don't tell” crap hinders, even discriminates against, who would serve, based on sexual orientation. Isn't this illegal in the marketplace? Can a company refuse to hire or terminate an existing employee based on sexual preference? Is that legal? Better gay than a draftee, or even worse a pacifist. Any person who is willing to put on the uniform of this country deserves our respect — and a little privacy.

DAVID GOODMAN

Louisville 40258

Changing excuses

First, African Americans couldn't serve their country because back then they were considered to be “lesser” human beings. Next, women couldn't serve because it was “unsanitary.” Against how many more groups of people can we unfairly discriminate?

If we could end “don't ask, don't tell,” the only thing that would change would be that gays no longer have to hide who they truly are. Would that be such a horrible thing?

Let them serve and let them marry. In the words of Thomas Jefferson (while originally said in reference to religious freedom, I feel it also applies here): “It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.”